Accounts Vary on U.S. Move Into Baghdad

American armored combat troops entered the "heart of Baghdad" on Saturday, defeating Iraqi forces as they went, the U.S. Central Command said.

But witnesses said they saw no evidence of an incursion, and Navy Capt. Frank Thorp, a coalition spokesman, refused to specify what he meant by the city's "heart."

The situtation was further confused later Saturday when a second Central Command spokesman described the incursion into Baghdad as a movement of tanks and other armor through the southwest quadrant of the capital that ended at the international airport west of the city.

"It was I think a clear statement of the ability of the coalition forces to move into Baghdad at a time and place of their choosing," said Maj. Gen. Victor Renuart, a spokesman.

He refused to say if any coalition forces remained in the center of the city as had been claimed by Thorp.

Earlier, when asked if the incursion was a probing run and whether forces would return to the outskirts, he said: "They're not coming out."

"That's not the intent to come back out," he said. "They're in Baghdad."

But later he described the mission as not being designed for "holding ground. At this point, that was not an objective to hold any territory in Baghdad. This was an opportunity that the ground force commander saw to move troops through a major area of Baghdad, and jumped on it."

Earlier, when asked if the incursion was a probing run and whether forces would return to the outskirts, he said: "They're not coming out."

"That's not the intent to come back out," he said. "They're in Baghdad."

An Iraqi military statement carried on Iraqi satellite television said coalition forces attempted to advance on the city from its southern edge in the area of the expressway.

A "valiant force" from the Republican Guard and other Iraqi fighters engaged the attackers in a "violent battle."

"We were able to chop off their rotten heads," the statement said. The attack was halted and the coalition force began retreating, "chased by the fire of our forces."

Thorp said that Baghdad was a big city, and that "if you move through the heart of New York City, there are going to be millions of people who don't see you."

He stressed that "American armored combat formations have moved through the heart of Baghdad, defeating the Iraqi troops we have encountered."

"We have substantial forces now moving into the city," he said.

Iraqi Information Minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf disputed the American claims, saying Iraqi forces had driven coalition troops from Baghdad's international airport. The coalition says the airport is securely in the hands of American forces.

"It's sad that the regime, as its nearing its end, is reverting to that kind of thing," Thorp said, referring to al-Sahhaf's comments. "Journalists embedded with American forces are already at the airport."

Thorp said the best way to classify the situation in the city is that it was under control despite sporadic fighting.

"Resistance has been sporadic, but when it's happened, there has been some fierce fighting," he said. "I would not want to downplay the level of resistance on the ground."

He declined to be specific on how many troops were moving in the city, describing the numbers as "substantial."

"We have reports of engaging the special Republican Guard in a limited basis, and as we move into the city," Thorp said.

He also said that elements of the 1st Marines Expeditionary Force had penetrated the Al Nida division of the Republican Guard on the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad.

In addition, Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks told reporters on Friday that Special Operations forces were "maintaining effective control" of the roads between Baghdad and Tikrit, the hometown of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

That puts coalition forces along the southern arc of Baghdad as well as a northern entry point, although Thorp declined to say where else they might be.

The move into the city came after U.S. Army tanks rumbled into Baghdad early Saturday for the first time while columns of armored vehicles began encircling the city of 5 million people and seat of Saddam Hussein's power.

Thousands of Iraqis fled the city, fearing urban warfare.

The Iraqi capital was breached by a reconnaissance force of the 3rd Infantry Division. It came as Army tanks and infantry fought off attacks at Baghdad's newly seized international airport.